NY Giants at Tampa Bay Week 4 NFL Spread, Analysis & Preview

NY Giants at Tampa Bay Week 4 NFL Spread, Analysis & Preview

Written by on September 29, 2017

There are five winless teams in the NFL, and the most unlikely has to be the New York Giants with all the talent they have and they fact they were 11-5 last season and a playoff team. So, it’s not weird to see that the Buccaneers are -3 on the betting lines for Week 4. The Giants are field goal underdogs on the NFL spread for Sunday’s trip to Tampa.

NY Giants at Tampa Bay Week 4 NFL Spread, Analysis & Preview

When: Sunday, 4:05 PM ET Where: Raymond James Stadium TV: Fox Radio: WFAN 660 AM (NY) / WDAE 620 AM (Tampa Bay) Stream Option: NFL Live Opening NFL Spread: Bucs -3 (44)

Series History

Tampa Bay’s last victory in the series came in 2003. Overall, the Giants lead the series 12-6 (plus one playoff win), although the Buccaneers do have a 5-6 record against New York in games played in Tampa. The Buccaneers have two good stretches in their history with New York, winning three of four from 1979-84 and three of four from 1997-03. The Giants have won five straight in the series and have averaged just over 30 points per outing in its most recent four victories, with quarterback Eli Manning tossing a total of nine touchdown passes.
  • Total Meetings: 20
  • First Meeting: November 13th, 1977. Tampa Stadium. Tampa, Florida
  • Last Meeting: November 8th, 2015. Raymond James Stadium. Tampa, Florida
  • All-Time Series: NY Giants 14-6-0
  • Largest Margin of Victory: NY Giants 24-0 (2009)
  • Longest Win Streak: NY Giants 5 (2006-2015)
  • Current Win Streak: NY Giants 5 (2006-2015)

Are the Chargers a Safe NFL Betting Pick in Week 4 Against the Eagles?

Why Bet On NY Giants?

New York at least played better in Week 3 and scored a season-high 24 points but lost on a last-second 61-yard field goal in Philadelphia. Manning threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including a 77-yard score to Sterling Shepard, to take the lead. The Giants hadn’t scored 20 points in eight straight games before Manning led them to 21 in a span of 5:21. He also tossed TD passes of 10 yards and 4 yards to Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham Jr., who now has 301 receptions in 45 career games, reached 300 career receptions in the fewest games in NFL history. He surpassed Anquan Boldin, who recorded his 300th career reception in his 47th career game. With 35 completions last week, Manning increased his career total to 4,158. That broke a tie with Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway and moved Manning into sixth place on the NFL’s career list. Next up: No. 5 Dan Marino (4,967). The Giants’ 24-point quarter vs. the Eagles was their highest-scoring fourth quarter since Sept. 16, 2012, when they scored 25 in a 41-34 comeback victory vs. Tampa Bay. History says the Giants need a mini-miracle. Only three teams since the current playoff format was established have reached the postseason after starting the season with three straight losses. It hasn’t happened since the 1998 Buffalo Bills started 0-3 and qualified for the playoffs. Giants MLB B.J. Goodson (shin) got in a limited practice Wednesday. Goodson has missed the last two games with a shin injury, but he is hopeful he will be able to return this week.  RB Shane Vereen (calf) didn’t practice Wednesday. It’s a concern with fellow RB Orleans Darkwa also sidelined.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 12.33
  • Total Yards: 306
  • Rush Yards: 48.67
  • Passing Yards: 257.33
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 23.33
  • Total Yards: 334.33
  • Rush Yards: 153.33
  • Passing Yards: 181

Why Bet On Tampa Bay?

The Bucs looked great at home in Week 2 – they didn’t play Week 1 due to Hurricane Irma – but then were dominated 34-17 in Minnesota last week as Vikings backup QB Case Keenum torched the Tampa Bay defense. Minnesota built a 28-3 lead by early in the third quarter and compiled 494 yards, up from 237 yards in the 26-9 loss at Pittsburgh the week before. Shadowed by Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes, Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had a quiet game with seven catches for 67 yards. DeSean Jackson and Cameron Brate each had a touchdown reception while Jameis Winston completed 28 of 40 passes for 328 yards. Like the Giants’ Manning, Winston is a former No. 1 overall pick. The former Heisman Trophy winner and national champion who is 16-18 as a starter in the NFL. One of those losses came to the Giants in his rookie season. Winston went 19 of 36 for 247 yards and had a rushing touchdown in a 32-18 loss to the Giants at Raymond James Stadium. Are the Buccaneers a safe bet against the Giants? The Bucs likely will try to run the ball as the Giants are allowing a league-high 153.3 rushing yards per game. This comes a year after the Giants were tied with New England for the No. 3 rushing defense, giving up just 88.6 yards per game. They allowed 120-plus rushing yards just once all of last season. So far, they have done so three times in three games. Tampa’s defense is a bit banged up. Linebacker Lavonte David has a “medial” ankle sprain. It beats a high ankle sprain, which would sideline David for at least a month. The Bucs believe he’s “week to week” but not likely for Week 4. DE Noah Spence has been diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder. Spence had surgery on the shoulder after tearing his labrum last season. He’s back to wearing a shoulder harness and will try to play through the injury.  DT Gerald McCoy (ankle) was in a walking boot following the Week 3 loss to the Vikings. McCoy was questionable heading into the weekend with an ankle injury, and he aggravated it during the game. He’s likely to play.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 23
  • Total Yards: 326.5
  • Rush Yards: 71.50
  • Passing Yards: 255
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 20.50
  • Total Yards: 402
  • Rush Yards: 72.50
  • Passing Yards: 329.50

Latest NFL Spread Trends

  • NY Giants are 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games
  • NY Giants are 1-5 SU in the last 6 games
  • The total went UNDER in 9 of NY Giants’s last 12 games
  • Buccaneers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games
  • Buccaneers are 7-3 SU in the last 10 games
  • The total went UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games

Expert Prediction

Don’t touch this game at 3 points – buy it down to 2.5 and take the home Bucs in the NFL spread to keep New York winless.